South Africa (SA) marks National Freedom Day on 19 October, commemorating the apartheid government’s banning of newspapers and the detention of journalists in 1977.
Press and media freedom are fundamental to democracy, enabling journalists to inform the public, expose wrongdoing and hold those in positions of power accountable.
The day recalls the banning of The World and Weekend World newspapers by the apartheid government.
The editors of the publications, Percy Qoboza and Aggrey Klaaste, were detained amid the government’s crackdown on reporting about the aftermath of the 1976 student uprisings and the death in detention of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko.
Journalists in various parts of the country were also detained as the apartheid government intensified its efforts to suppress dissent and restrict the flow of information.
–SABC–
